Todd Cruz

Of Mexican American descent, he was born in Highland Park, Michigan in Metro Detroit and was raised in Mexicantown in Detroit. He attended Western High School in Detroit. He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Western High School in the second round (26th overall) of the MLB amateur entry draft in June, 1973, immediately signing a contract later that month. He finally made his major league debut five years later, playing only three September games with the Phillies . With Larry Bowa established as the everyday shortstop, Cruz was traded to the Royals for Doug Bird on April 3, 1979, three days before the start of a new season.\n', '

The Royals, with a glut of outfielders, a need for a starting first baseman and having decided on U.L. Washington as its regular shortstop, dealt Cruz, along with Al Cowens and right-handed pitcher Craig Eaton, to the Angels for Willie Aikens and…